Burnout among physicians is a real and mounting issue, according to the Medscape Lifestyle Report 2016: Bias and Burnout. The report defines 'burnout' as "loss of enthusiasm for work, feelings of cynicism and a low sense of personal accomplishment."
The report received responses from more than 15,800 physicians in more than 25 specialties.
Here are seven findings from the report:
1. Critical care, urology and emergency medicine specialties top the charts, with 55 percent of these specialty physicians reporting burnout feelings. The psychiatry & mental health specialty ranks lowest with 40 percent of physicians feeling burnt out.
2. Critical care physicians reported the highest severity of their burnout at 4.74, on a scale of one (does not impact my life) to seven (so severe, may leave medicine).
3. Burnout affects females more than males, with 55 percent of female physicians reporting burnout compared to 46 percent of male physicians.
4. Physicians felt an "increasing computerization of practice" contributed most to their burnout with a score of 4.02 on a scale of one (doesn't contribute) to seven (definitely contributes). A "difficult employer" ranked at the bottom of contributors with a score of 2.83.
5. Physicians reported "emotional problems" as the number one issue affecting bias among their patients.
6. Based on the survey, burnout is related to bias, with those physicians reporting burnout more likely to report bias.
7. Dermatologists ranked at the top of the "happiness" list, with 39 percent feeling happiest at work. In contrast, only 24 percent of internal medicine physicians reported feeling happy at work.